CBA (Charlan Brock Associates) Architects, a full-service architectural firm located in Maitland, sponsored an award for architecture students in the University of Florida’s College of Design, Construction and Planning. The students eligible for this prize were in the Advanced Graduate Architectural Design 2 studio.

CBA Architects has a longstanding relationship with our college. Firm founders Butch Charlan, B.ARCH 1974, and Gary Brock, BDES 1973, MAARC 1974, met at the college in the 1970s and founded the company in 1981.

“Having quite literally set the foundation of our company in the halls of UF’s College of Design, Construction and Planning, we are thrilled to play a role in helping to shape the future of today’s students and tomorrow’s talented workforce,” said Gary Brock, AIA, Principal and Partner, CBA Architects. “Some of the concepts that these students will explore during their Design 2 studio will apply for the rest of their lives, so it is with great pleasure that we offer our experience and feedback during their project completion phase.”

The esteemed jury comprised of CBA employees and UF architecture faculty chose four students as winners of this prize. Nick Lyons took home top honors along with $4,000. Elizabeth Carmody was awarded second place ($2,000) while Jialu Guo and Calvin Myers tied for third and won $1,000 each.

In Advanced Graduate Architectural Design 2 studio, students are expected to develop a philosophical position and operate with a research-based design process in the design of multiple projects over the course of the semester. Students develop their ideas conceptually and architecturally to provide a strong foundation in critical thinking and architectural design.

“We’ve been interested in recognizing the students for the quality of their design work,” UF School of Architecture Director Jason Alread stated. “And being able to partner with a firm, it allows us to recognize their work in regards to the profession as well as the school.”

DCP Communications spoke with the winner of the top prize, Nick Lyons, and asked him questions about his big win.

DCP Communications: Can you describe your winning entry?

Lyons: The project consists of an 80,000 square feet fabrication workshop and studio located in Gas Works Park in Seattle, Washington. The workshop negotiates between the very private functions of fabrication and the very public program of a waterfront park. Channeling a more holistic approach to public design, the workshop becomes more about the creation of a new landscape where both fabrication and the public interact.

DCP Communications: What does winning this prize mean to you?

Lyons: Winning the CBA prize is a very pleasant validation of a semester of hard work. It’s always good to bring in outside eyes to take a look at student work.

DCP Communications: Any plans for your winnings?

Lyons: The winnings are going to be put away to help fund my final year of education at UF and basically go to pay off the time and materials for the projects over the school year.

DCP Communications: What would you like to say to CBA for sponsoring this contest?

Lyons: I would like to thank CBA so very much for engaging in architectural academia and for sponsoring the next generation of design professionals. Their involvement creates a fantastic example of circular generosity throughout both the profession and the school, something I hope to be able to continue in my future years in practice.